GSURC 2017 Abstract Title: Mind-Altering Microbes: Effects of Dietary Emulsifiers on Vasopressin and Oxytocin in Mice

nucleus of the hypothalamus; paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus Microbiota are the microorganisms that colonize the internal and external surfaces of the body and contribute to the microbiota-gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication pathway between the brain, intestines, and gut microbiota. The microbiota-gut-brain axis has been shown to influence developmental processes and may explain the high comorbidity between neurological and gastrointestinal diseases. Recent evidence from our and other laboratories suggests that the gut microbiota influence the expression of vasopressin (AVP), a neuropeptide that mediates anxiety, stress and sickness behaviors and oxytocin (OXT), a neuropeptide that is involved in social behavior and energy homeostasis. One way that the gut microbiota can be altered is through diet. Processed foods contain many additives such as emulsifiers, ambiphillic molecules used to stabilize emulsions of oil and water. These emulsifiers alter the gut microbiome and increase intestinal inflammation, leading to increased symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Recently, we have demonstrated that the emulsifiers carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and polysorbate 80 (P80) increase anxiety-like behavior and reduce social behavior. Here, we investigate the roles of AVP and OXT as potential neural mechanisms by which emulsifiers alter anxiety and social behaviors. To test, male and female mice were weaned at 3 weeks of age, started in water (control), CMC or P80 treatment, and remained on treatment throughout the